More West Seattle school news: Chief Sealth ribboncutting set

As work continues on Chief Sealth International High School renovations, and construction of the new Denny International Middle School next door, the date’s already set for two events celebrating the reopening of Sealth’s permanent campus (map): The day before classes start for next school year, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned, 9:30 am September 7th, at the main entrance. Then on Saturday, September 25th, an all-community celebration is planned, described in the announcement as “an opportunity for the community to come tour the renovated main building, gym and new Galleria/Commons.” The galleria’s where this photo was taken earlier this month (it, and the photo above, are courtesy of the project team):

Just as a heads up, the principal at Sealth was allowed to make the decision to move the community back into the building before it is finished (i.e. the punchlist is completed). This was reported at the May BEX Oversight Committee meeting with several committee members questioning if this was a good idea. Their concern was that it is much harder for a construction crew to get the final work done with a population in the building. The head of the BEX projects said it was “the culture of the district to allow the principal this decision”.

All I can tell you is it didn’t work for Garfield which still, 4 years later, has issues with its building with some of them coming from allowing the community back into the building before it was finished.

I asked the project management firm, DKA, about this, and was told outright today by liaison Pauline Sugarman, “I asked the Senior Project Manager and the Project Manager and they both say all work is on target and scheduled to be completed in time for the staff to do their move and get settled before school starts. Actually, the Galleria is ahead of schedule.” – Tracy